The Fire Of The Lord

THE FIRE OF THE LORD

MATTHEW 3:11 – 12

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

THIS MORNING I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT A SUBJECT THAT MAY NOT BE POPULAR, BUT ONE THAT IS NEEDED

THIS MORNING I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU NOT ONLY ABOUT THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST, BUT ABOUT THE FIRE OF THE LORD THAT COMES WITH THE HOLY GHOST

WE DO NOT HEAR ENOUGH PREACHING TODAY ON THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND EVEN LESS ABOUT THE FIRE OF THE HOLY GHOST

ALTHOUGH MANY MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT, ALONG WITH THE BAPTISM COMES THE FIRE

WHAT IS THE FIRE?

FIRE IS MENTIONED OVER 500 TIMES IN THE WORD OF GOD

FIRE HAS ALWAYS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAN’S LIFE

WHILE NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE WHERE FIRE FIRST CAME FROM, EVERY GENERATION EVER RECORDED THE USE OF FIRE

GENESIS 19:24 IS THE FIRST RECORDED MENTION OF FIRE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

GEN. 19:24

Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

MATTHEW 3:10 IS THE FIRST RECORDED USE OF THE WORD FIRE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

MATT. 3:10

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire

IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT THE FIRST MENTION OF FIRE IN BOTH TESTAMENTS ALSO SPEAKS OF AN ACT OF JUDGMENT

AND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THERE IS AN ACT OF PURGING, PURIFYING ASSOCIATED WITH IT AS WELL

MATTHEW 3:12

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

GOD AND FIRE GO TOGETHER

AS WE STUDY THE SCRIPTURES WE SOON LEARN THAT GOD AND FIRE HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER

For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple

(2 Chr. 7:1, 3).

Figuratively, fire is a symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power (Ex. 14:19; Num. 11:1, 3; Judg. 13:20; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10, 12; 2:11; Isa. 6:4; Ezek. 1:4; Rev. 1:14, etc.).

God’s word is also likened unto fire (Jer. 23:29).

IN THE FIRE WE SEE GOD’S PLEASURE

LEVITICUS 9:24

And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

1 KINGS 18:38

Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

1 CHRONICLES 21:26

And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

2 CHRONICLES 7:1

Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

IN FIRE WE SEE GOD’S ANGER

LEVITICUS 10:1

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

2 SAMUEL 22:13

Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. 14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

15And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. 16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

BUT IN OUR TEXT WE SEE FIRE IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT